Affectis Granted Patent for AFC-5128, other P2X7 Antagonists

Martinsried, Germany, January 25, 2012 / B3C newswire / –Affectis Pharmaceuticals AG, a pharmaceutical company developing novel drugs for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases, announced today that the European Patent Office has granted a key patent for its oral brain-penetrant P2X7 antagonist AFC-5128 which is being developed for the treatment of neuropathic pain and multiple sclerosis.

The European patent EP2105164 is related to the composition of AFC-5128, a highly potent orally active P2X7 antagonist. A key advantage of the compound is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target P2X7-expressing CNS-cells such as glia and oligodendrocyte cells which are linked to neurodegenerative processes. Affectis has shown that oral administration of AFC-5128 significantly reduces clinical scores and frequency of relapse in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Strong analgesic effects have also been observed in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. With these efficacy data available, Affectis is on track for filing an IND in 2012 for neuropathic pain and multiple sclerosis.

The granted patent also covers the composition of further P2X7 antagonist compounds. Affectis has filed corresponding patent applications that are being processed in major markets such as the USA, Japan, China, among others.

Dr. Manfred Ruediger, CEO of Affectis, commented, "The issuance of this patent, the confirmation of the efficacy of AFC-5128 in various animal models and the license agreement entered with Merck Serono on a separate program are all important achievements that occurred in the past year."

About Affectis Pharmaceuticals AGAffectis is a pharmaceuticals company developing novel drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. Affectis' unique capabilities in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry allow the company to develop drugs with innovative mechanisms of action based on pioneering findings in the field of P2X7 receptors, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Affectis develops proprietary drug candidates from discovery to clinical stage and will partner or license its programs at late development stage to accelerate development and commercialization of its candidates and has successfully partnered several of its programs which carry the promise of bringing to market entirely new classes of drugs that would address and satisfy unmet needs.